In a statement read to the court Mr Mason’s uncle, named only as Mr Chambers, said: ‘I remember the day Brendan was murdered. Something was ripped out of me.

‘He was the life and soul of our house. He used to crack jokes and make everyone laugh. This is something you hear about on TV and never go through.’

Michael Auty, defending Hack, said his client had autism and was ‘pathetically immature’.

Groundsmen found the vulnerable victim unconscious and bleeding at 7.40am and he was airlifted to hospital (Picture: SWNS)

Christopher Donnellan, representing Lowe, said: ‘He accepted there was going to be a confrontation with the deceased but not at the level that it turned into. He is a young man who has difficulties.’

Sentencing the pair to life in prison, Judge Michael Chambers said: ‘Brendan Mason was only 23 with his life before him.

‘He was sadly a vulnerable young man with learning difficulties. He was kicked mercilessly while naked. The video found was a chilling and deeply disturbing recording of Brendan naked, being kicked repeatedly to the head.

‘He’s even told to remove his hands from his face so you can kick him. You subjected him to a brutal and sustained attack of extreme violence. You caused him great pain and humiliation.

Brendan was found to have 99 separate injuries to his head and body, including brain damage, five broken ribs and a collapsed lung, and he died later that day. (Picture: SWNS)

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‘This was a planned attack, during which you filmed each other assaulting him and you revelled in what you had done, bragging to others. You stripped him naked and left him unconscious. He died later that day.’

The judge said Hack had lied in his first interview with the police and even gone with friends to lay flowers at the scene where Mr Mason’s body was found.

He said Lowe had bleached his bloodstained trousers, washed his hooded top and hidden his blood-spattered shoes in a bid to cover his tracks.

Judge Chambers added: ‘I find that each of you were equally involved and responsible for what was a joint attack. I’m satisfied you made the recording for your own gratification and took a number of trophy photographs.

The pair filmed themselves beating the victim (Picture: SWNS)

‘You clearly knew the difference between right and wrong. You were in full possession of your faculties.’

The pair were jailed at the same court for the ‘deeply disturbing sustained attack’ which featured the ‘most extreme violence’.

Hack was handed a life sentence and must serve a minimum of 20 years and six months.

Lowe was also jailed for life and told he must serve at least 21 years behind bars before being considered eligible for parole.